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Bioscience/Diagnostics

Southern Arizona is becoming known as one of the nation’s most innovative bioscience centers and is home to Ventana Medical Systems (a division of the Roche Group), Accelerate Diagnostics, and Critical Path Institute, to cite just a few firms with headquarters here.

Our educated workforce benefits from two top-ranked research universities and a well respected community college. This combination forms a strong foundation for any bioscience company looking to locate in the Southwest.

With a myriad of academic and technical life sciences programs at the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Pima Community College, the Tucson region has a young, educated workforce and first-rate training opportunities. Collaboration opportunities are numerous and cutting-edge research facilities provide a strong draw for companies from start ups to well established firms.

The emerging bioscience industry supports research collaborations, partnership identification, international outreach programs and technical assistance. Strong support from groups such as the Bioscience Leadership Council of Southern Arizona (BLCSA) and the Arizona Bioindustry Association (AZBio), help drive the bioscience economy, mobilizing leadership committed to collaboration, results and economic growth.

AZBio is the state affiliate in Arizona of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the preeminent national association for biotechnology companies, and of AdvaMed, the largest association representing manufacturers of medical devices, diagnostic products and medical information systems. AZBio advances the growth of bioscience companies through advocacy, connections, purchasing power and workforce development.

The region is on the forefront of bioscience, clearly defined in the Southern Arizona Bioscience Roadmap. Developed by the Flinn Foundation and Battelle, the roadmap is a 10-year vision for the future. The plan includes current strengths and strategies – such as mobilizing public and private leadership, investing in higher education, attracting a greater share of funding and developing scientific and technical talent.

Funding/Support

Science Foundation Arizona is a public-private partnership to invest in information and communications technology, sustainable systems, and biomedical research in Arizona.

The Flinn Foundation provides grants to Arizona-based institutions or those whose programs are operated for the benefit of Arizona.

Workforce

The University of Arizona

For the 2015 Fiscal Year, the National Science Foundation (NSF) ranked The University of Arizona 34th among all universities for research and development expenditures within the Science and Engineering category and 25th for earned Doctorates.

The UA’s Colleges of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Science, and Engineering produced 3,151 graduates in 2016-2017. The UA is nationally recognized for interdisciplinary graduate programs in biomedical engineering, neuroscience, pharmacology and toxicology, cancer biology, applied mathematics, genetics and more.

The UA’s College of Science, a national leader in Applied Bioscience programs, offers a Master’s Degree in Applied Bioscience.

UA Faculty includes Nobel and Pulitzer prize winners.

Pima Community College

Pima Community College, the eighth-largest community college in the country, has an annual enrollment of more than 45,000 students and offers applied degree programs in bioscience topics.

Employers

The Tucson region has the scientific base and the intellectual, financial and commercial leadership to become the pre-eminent location for diagnostics companies. The region is already home to internationally recognized/emerging leaders in diagnostics such as Ventana Medical Systems, HTG Molecular, Accelerate Diagnostics, MSDx and others, and the community has world-renowned spa destinations such as Canyon Ranch and Miraval that have unparalleled reputations for promoting healthy living. No other community has these assets combined with a world-class, top-ranked research university, a strong and culturally diverse portfolio of people, facilities and real estate, and a lifestyle that attracts and retains the Creative Class.